Method of salvaging bowling pins



Nov. 21, 1961 A. w. GERLIKOVSKI 3,009,496

METHOD OF SALVAGING BOWLING PINS Original Filed Dec. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

fizoz/v W 65/24 //\0 1/5/0 Nov. 21, 1961 A. w. GERLIKOVSKI 3,009,496

METHOD OF SALVAGING BOWLING PINS Original Filed Dec. 9, 1957 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I JP 1 33 IN VEN TOR.

6'4 001 wezfiu/mri/r/ United States Patent Ofiice 3,009,496 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,496 METHOD OF SALVAGING BOWLING PINS Alden W. Gerlikovski, 831 N. Irwin Ave., Green Bay, Wis. Original application Dec. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 701,568. Divided and this application Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 144--310) This invention relates generally to the art of salvaging and reconstructing salvable bowling pins, and more particularly to a new and novel method requiring the application of side slabs to a bowling pin during the reconstructing process.

This application is a division of a copending application Serial No. 701,568 filed December 9, 1957.

A salvable bowling pin is a used or damaged bowling pin, or the like, whose surface portion has become dented, cracked, chipped, splintered, or otherwise damaged; or a defective new bowling pin or cull that is rejectable because of the presence therein of knots, cracks, cavities, bad surfaces, or is otherwise imperfectly formed, or the like.

It is known to be old in the art of expanding salvable bowling pins, to laterally increase the bulk of salvable bowling pins by the segmental division thereof, and the insertion of slabs therebetween.

The purpose of this invention is to economize on the use of wood by the applicationv of slabs to outside portions of a salvable bowling pin.

An object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin whereby a bowling pin is fully laterally expanded with the use of a minimum of additional insertable wood.

Another object is to provide a new and novel method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin whereby diametrically opposite slabs on the outside portions of a salvable bowling pin substitute for an insertable inner slab.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin whereby a slab insert on the inside of a salvable bowling p-in expands it laterally along a transverse axis, and shorter slabs, at right angle to said slab insert, on the outside portions of the bowling pin, complete the expansion of the bowling pin in a direction at right angle to said axis.

Yet another object is to provide a method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins quickly and cheaply.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin whereby an insertable slab, of a width dimension less than the maximum diameter of the body of the bowling pin, is used to expand the pin laterally along a transverse axis.

Other specific objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a salvable bowling pin, showing the pin body planed on opposite sides thereof to provide oppositely disposed flat surface portions on the body of said salvable pin;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view showing short wood slabs secured to the opposite flat faces of the planed pin shown in FIG. 1 thereby forming a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the partially laterally expanded rough pin unit bisected along the longitudinal axis thereof and on a plane at right angle to the short wood slabs, the symmetric half segments'being disposed in spaced relation;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the half segments of FIG. 5 oppositely disposed and mounted on opposite faces of an intervening wood slab, forming a fully'laterally expanded rough pin structure;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7; I

FIG. 9 is an elevation view showing the fully expanded rough pin structure of FIG. 7, after the removal of excess outer portions and finished to a size, shape and specification of a standard bowling pin; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts through-- and relatively short similar rectangular wood slabs, such.

as indicated at 29 and 31 in FIGS. 3 and 4, are superposed over said plane faces 26 and 27, respectively, and held pressed to said faces until the cement has dried, thereby securing said short slabs to said faces, and forming a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Said partially expanded rough pin unit is bisected along its longitudinal axis and on a plane at right angle to the plane of said short wood slabs, into two symmetric half segments generally indicated as 32 and 33, as shown by FIGS. 5 and 6.

The two planar bisecting faces of the segments are then made smooth, if necessary, by any means such as sanding, planing, or the like.

After said cut faces are properly smoothed, said faces are coated with cement, and oppositely disposed on opposite faces of an intervening rectangular wood slab 34, symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of said slab 3.4, and the segments held pressed to said slab until the cement has dried, thereby forming a fully expanded rough pin structure, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Said wood slabs should preferably be of the same wood as the salvable bowling pin, and adequately dried for the intended purpose. Should the salvable pin be overweight, the slabs can be of a density less than the density of the overweight pin, to bring the weight of the ultimately reconstructed pin within specification limits for a new standard pin.

The wood slab insert 34 should be of a length and width at least as great as the corresponding dimensions of the salvable bowling pin, and of a thickness to allow for the ultimate removal of the pertinent defects in the segments of said rough pin unit during its processing to a finally reconstructed pin. A seven-eighths inch thickness sufiices in most instances, though not limited thereto.

The short wood slabs 29 and 31 are of a dimension to substantially cover the provided fiat faces 27 and 26, respectively, and are roughly five inches (5") wide, seven inches (7") high, and three-fourths inch /1") thick for all practical purposes, though not limited thereto. Specifically the side slabs 29 and 31 should be at least as thick as the planed and removed body portions of said salvable pin segments, respectively.

The over-all bulk and circumference of the fully expanded rough pin structure is obviously greater than a standard size pin, so that when said rough structure is trimmed to proper size, the excess and damaged portions will be removed, and a sound standard pin result.

The fully expanded rough pin structure is now ready for trimming; In trimming-those portions of the wood slabs projecting beyond the rough pin outline can be removed first, preferably with a band saw, if desired.

The rough pin structure is then mounted in a lathe with the spindle points substantially on the longitudinal axis of said rough wood body, and trimmed down gradually, with the use of suitable cutting tools, to a size, shape, and specification of a standard bowling pin, such as generally indicated at 35 in FIGS. 9 and 10.

It is understood that standard size includes a pin of a slightly reduced size, relative to a standard pin, to allow for a plastic coating thlfiOIlyOl' the like, should such coating be desired on a pin.

One feature of this method is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin wherein a salvable bowling pin is laterally expanded in the first place by the application of wood slabs on oppositely disposed flat surfaces planed on the body portion, only, of the bowling pin.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

The method of repairing a used salvable bowling pin, comprising the steps of: removing sections of the body portion of a used salvable bowling pin substantially on opposite sides thereof to plane faces substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bowling pin, said plane faces being substantially parallel to each other; cementing slab means on said faces respectively, to form a partially expanded rough pin unit, said slab means being substantially as thick as said removed body portions of said salvable bowling pins; planarly dividing said partially expanded rough pin unit substantially longitudinally, and substantially at right angle to one of said slab means, into substantially half segments; cementing said segments, substantially oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of slab insert means, to form a fully expanded rough pin structure; and trimming away excess outer portions of said fully expanded rough pin structure to form a reconstructed bowling pin of standard size and shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

